NEWS

“My visit to Bucharest shows our willingness to develop our very good bilateral relations and to cooperate closely with Romania in the EU and NATO,” the chief of Polish diplomacy said after his meeting with Romania’s Foreign Minister Teodor Viorel Meleşcanu. ‎Minister Czaputowicz was the first foreign guest received by the head of the Romanian MFA this year when Romania holds the Presidency of the EU Council.

The ministers discussed current issues on the European Union agenda, including energy policy, the future Multiannual Financial Framework, cohesion policy and migration policy. “We note with satisfaction that our views converge on many issues,” said the chief of Polish diplomacy. “We congratulate our Romanian friends on assuming the Presidency and wish them effective work and success in the realisation of the most important goals,” underscored Minister Czaputowicz. He also noted that today’s talks have demonstrated the willingness of the two sides to enhance Polish-Romanian cooperation in the European Union and to seek common solutions with respect to the future of the EU.

During their meeting, Ministers Jacek Czaputowicz and Teodor Meleşcanu said there was an urgent need to revise the Gas Directive. The head of the Polish MFA said he was confident that it is vital for the finalisation of the Energy Union. He mentioned in this context the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, stressing that this investment has a negative impact on the gas market in the EU and that it destroys the solidarity of the EU.

The ministers also talked about the Western Balkans. “We agree that the Western Balkan countries need our support in the process of their integration with the EU,” noted the chief of Polish diplomacy, adding that he laid out the plans and objectives connected with the hosting by Poznan of the Western Balkans Summit in July 2019.

Bilateral relations and cooperation of the two countries in the area of security policy, including as part of NATO and in different regional forums were also discussed.‎ In this context, Minister Czaputowicz mentioned close cooperation in the framework of the Bucharest Format (B9), which groups nine countries of NATO’s eastern flank and the Poland-Romania-Turkey triangle. “We have discussed plans for this year,” noted the head of the Polish MFA. The chiefs of Polish and Romanian diplomacy stressed the special importance of the transatlantic relationship, which is key to the security of this part of the world.

The ministers also covered issues connected with the growing Polish-Romanian economic cooperation and the prospects for expanding it further and exchanged views on regional cooperation. “The Three-Seas Initiative Summit in Warsaw in July 2017 mapped out directions of our regional economic, infrastructural, and transport cooperation, and collaboration in cyberspace,” remarked Minister Czaputowicz.

Minister Czaputowicz’s visit to Bucharest took place in the year of the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Poland and Romania. The anniversary is a symbolic reference point for further actions to enhance our bilateral relations. On this occasion, Minister Teodor Meleşcanu presented the chief of Polish diplomacy with one hundred thousand pages of archival documents in electronic form concerning Polish-Romanian relations in 1918-1947.

During his visit to Bucharest, Minister Jacek Czaputowicz also met with Romania’s Prime Minister Viorica Dăncila.‎ They agreed that Romania would organise the next inter-governmental consultations this year. The Romanian prime minister said she was confident that good cooperation will help both countries address such challenges as Brexit and post-Brexit Europe, and migration. Minister Czaputowicz used the opportunity to emphasize the importance of Polish-Romanian strategic partnership and assured Romania of Poland’s support during the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council.